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these things work together for his good, seems like insulting his misfortunes! To tell Job that the loss of his property, the bereavement of his children, his own diseases, the reproaches of his friends, and the unkind treatment of his wife, that all these are blessings in disguise, seems to be like trifling with his woes! And you, when your wounds are bleeding, and your heart is overwhelmed under some sudden calamity, are ill prepared to receive the declaration of my text-" Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." And yet it is all true; and God would not be just-God would not be wise and kind-if he did not visit you precisely as he has. For every suffering there was a necessity: there was no one visitation that had not its commission. But all the troubled waves of that agitated sea will break and leave a blessing at your feet. Yes, providence is mysterious; it is a vast machine, and we only see a part. There are wheels within wheels, and springs operating upon springs; and because we cannot see the whole, we are apt to conclude there is no harmony in the mechanism! but the parts are all adapted to a general purpose: and we wonder and expect that all will soon be a chaos-but by and by the clouds will roll off, and we shall see the eternity in which it rolls, and the eternity in which it terminates. We shall survey with a power of vision such as we are now incapable of; and looking at the immense and mighty structure, we shall be led to admire its perfect symmetry, its fair proportions, its wonderful harmony, the adaptation of its several parts, and the living spirit that animates and inspires the whole.

66 Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill

He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will."

"Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." But I must hasten to the practical lessons taught us by the subject: and let me direct your thoughts first to adoration. Adore the Being whom you cannot comprehend! Enter into the spirit of the apostle; and, instead of cavilling, arguing, and resisting; instead of bringing down the Deity to your tribunal, and pronouncing an impious sentence on his conduct; instead of charging the Almighty foolishly, and replying against God; fall down with the Apostle, and exclaim, "O the depths of the riches both of the knowledge and of the wisdom of God! how unsearchable is his wisdom, and his ways past finding out!" And adore that unsearchable Jehovah, and be thankful that such a Being sits upon the throne of the universe, and sways its sceptre: a Being that will not bow to your prejudices! a Being that will not consult your appetites! a VOL. I.

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Being that will have no respect to your passions! a Being that will conduct all in infinite wisdom, for the security of his own glory, and in infinite love for the especial welfare of his people. Oh, happy are you, who when, in the hour of anguish, you cry unto him to remove the load, if he listens not to thy prayer, but suffers it to remain until it has accomplished all his purpose! Happy are you, who, while smarting under the rod, you entreat to be delivered from its scourge, he will not lay that rod aside until the last intended stroke is given, and he has sanctified the painful visitation he has sent! Happy for you, Christians, that there is one who is controlling all things for your good, directing the fury of every storm by which you are assailed; in the midst of darkness guiding you by an invisible hand, and preparing you for the brightness of an eternal day when this night is over and gone, and the blessed morning of your final redemption shall break upon your head!

Learn, in the second place, from the subject which we have now discussed; learn the exercise of faith. Trust him, though you cannot trace him: believe the doctrine plainly recorded in his word, though it is beyond the grasp of your finite reason; and do not conclude the doctrine is contrary to your reason, because it is above it. There is much that the rustic cannot understand, which the philosopher clearly comprehends. Much of truth there is which human beings, even the most exalted in intellect, cannot grasp that angels cannot! Much of truth there is which, obscure to us, is perfectly obvious to the infinite mind. Nor is there a single principle in the ordinary intercourse of life, or the structure of thy mortal frame, but well may excite doubt and hesitation, if the perfect comprehension of the truth is absolutely necessary to make it true. Tell me what is the power by which I lift up my arm to the impulse of my will. Tell me how my spirit, with all its powers, dwells within this tabernacle of clay, and operates upon my material frame. Take a grain of sand, a drop of water, a ray of light, and explain to me all the mysteries which each supplies; and when you have done the task, then I will allow you to cavil with the truth of revelation, and dispute the veracity of God! but till then be content to acknowledge your ignorance, let your finite be lost in the infinite; and the ray, the dim ray, of your reason be obscured by the bright effulgence of the uncreated light!

Learn, in the third place, gratitude, that, while there is so much mystery in redemption and providence, as well as in nature, yet that the great, the fundamental doctrines necessary to salvation, are clearly and simply explained, and written as with a sunbeam in the scriptures; so that he that runs may read, and “the faring man though a fool shall not err therein." We turn from these mysteries, and "we declare to you, men and brethren, that by this man, Christ Jesus, is preached to you the remission of

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sins." We turn from these mysteries, and say, " In him we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins;" and "besides him there is no Saviour;" "for there is none other name given under heaven amongst men whereby we can be saved." Brethren, a man may be saved without understanding all the mysteries of natural theology; but if a man believe not in the Lord Jesus Christ, he cannot be saved; " for he that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Wherefore I take God to record this day, that, profound as have been the mysteries at which we have dared to look, I am clear of your blood, as it regards your final salvation, since I have preached to you the cross of Christ. And, whilst this cross is to the Jew a stumbling block, and to the Greek foolishness; whilst they scorn and despise its simplicity; whilst they consider it an object rather of meanness and contempt; to them that believe, whether Jew or Greek, whether Barbarian or Scythian, whether black or white, whether bond or free, Asiatic or European; to every one that believeth in England and in India,―round the well-peopled world; to them that believe it is the power of God and the wisdom of God, whosoever he is that cries, "Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief!"

Learn patience. It may be dark now, but it shall be bright by and bye. This night of time will soon be over, and then the day of eternity will dawn! And in that day, who can tell, when the light of eternity is shed over the scenes of time, the mysteries of providence, the dispensations of grace, and your vision shall be strengthened, and your powers of perception be exalted to an extent hitherto unknown: who can tell what wonders we shall then behold, when studying the cross of Christ at the foot of the eternal throne, and looking back at the glories of the exalted Redeemer, that shall surround us and fill us with ineffable delight, on the sufferings of his cross, and the ignominy of his earthly pilgrimage.

Finally, learn submission. Pry not into the secrets of the Almighty! neither dare to meddle with his arrangements! Shall I give you some reasons why you should submit to the arrangements of God's holy providence? First, then, they are perfect and complete, and you cannot improve them. Secondly, they are infinite and vast, and you cannot understand them. In the third place, they are fixed and immutable, and you cannot alter them. And, finally, they are framed for the government of the divine conduct, and not yours; and therefore you have nothing to do with them. It is your business, it is your busniess, to obey. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”AMEN.

A Sermon

DELIVERED BY THE REV. DR. STYLES, OF BRIGHTON.

JUDGES, iii, part of the 20th verse." I have a Message from

God unto thee."

You will favor me with your attention whilst I address you this evening as the Messenger of your God,-standing before you under this character I feel my awful responsibility. There is a heavy woe denounced against me, if I do the work of the Lord deceitfully; if I refrain from declaring His whole Counsel. Hear what He has said to one of His servants. "Son of Man, I have made thee a Watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore hear the word of my mouth and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked thou shalt surely die, and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way to save his life, the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy Soul." How mysterious is the import of the blood of Souls !-I know not how to feel it!-I know that the Soul of Man is not a corporeal substance,—that it is not capable of receiving a mortal termination. The sensations inflicted on being accessory to the death of Souls. I assure you my brethren make the very blood to curdle in my veins;-but my sensations on this subject are not the only feelings which I now cherish, for I remember that you are in danger, and I feel compassion for your misery. It is possible, it is but too probable, that there are individuals in this assembly who at the last day will hear that tremendous sentence pronounced against them, "Depart, ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels." Now when I reflect upon the uncertainty of life, that you are hastening with all the rapidity of time to this dreadful tribunal,—I am sure you will bear with me, if, on this occasion, I am more than usually earnest; concerned as I am for my acceptance at the bar of God, I cannot help feeling a lively interest in your welfare; and if ever I prayed in my life, I do pray at this moment, I do pray that I should preach as though I ne'er should preach again, and as a dying Man to dying Men!-By reading my text, you will see that it was uttered on a peculiar occasion, and that I have chosen it, as applicable to the peculiar character in which I stand before you. Every faithful sermon delivered from the pulpit, is a message from the great God, for I do not stand here because I have placed myself in the situation uncalled; Woe is me, if I preach not the Gospelnecessity is laid upon me, and I have a message from God—a message to you.

For the sake of perspicuity, and that I may have an opportunity of addressing every character apart, I shall divide my hearers into five classes, and address a Message from God unto each:-To the CHRISTIAN I have a Message of exhortation and encouragement: To the BACKSLIDER a message of tenderness:

To the CARELESS SINNER my message regards sin, righteousness and judgment:

To the INFIDEL it is a message of expostulation and to the HYPOCRITE a message of warning. May God, the Eternal Spirit, point the arrow of conviction, that it may reach every conscience, every heart, and that there may be some trophies of His victory, some evidence that He has not sent His messengers to labor in vain, and spend their strength for nought.

CHRISTIAN I have a message from God unto you, it is of exhortation and encouragement. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are frequently exhorted by the different writers of the New Testament; they have line upon line, and precept upon precept;-We find that they not only address sinners by reminding them to "flee from the wrath to come," and to believe in Christ, but to Christians it it said "As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." Can you not remember that momentous and interesting period, when you first received Christ Jesus the Lord?What simplicity of mind did you display?-you had but one object; it filled the whole compass of your mind; there was but one subject that attracted your Soul, and commanded all your affections; it was "Christ and Him Crucified"-What a deadness did you discover to the world-Did it frown, you were superior to itDid it smile and surround you with every encouragement, it had lost its accustomed charms, and you felt the mighty influence of Divine Love: you were neither intimidated with opposition, nor elated by applause. With what ardor, with what vigilance did you pursue the road to Heaven and Glory; you were ready to say in the face of every obstacle, hinder me not, I have one great thing to do, I must "Strive to enter in at the straight gate," I have to advance in the Divine Life, the Bible points me to a glorious immortality, and I must "press forward to the mark of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus."-Christian, do you not recollect such a character as this?-Cannot you call to mind some seasons of impression resembling what I have now described?—Then what is my message to you,-to all of you that have believed in the Lord Jesus? As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him?—You are to advance, your ardor is not to abate, nor your zeal to cool; The earth is not to attract you; the things of Time are not to plead their importance;-You have set out, do not return; go on with the greatest zeal, and aim I beseech you at exemplary religion;-Never for one moment suffer your feelings to deaden, never suffer yourselves to be deprived of the holy ambition (if I may so call it) of going from strength to strength;-do not

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